Machine for cutting butter.



No. 714,943. Patented Dec. 2, I902.

S. E. PERKINS. MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER.

(Application filed In. 29 1909.)

(No Model.)

U lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SETH E. PERKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ABRAHAM FRANK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,943, dated December 2, 1 902 Application filed March 22, 1902. Serial No. 99,524. N model-l To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SETH E. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cutting Butter, of which the foilowinga specification.

This invention relates to butter-cutters.

The object of the invention is in a ready, simple, feasible, and rapid manner to cut a lump orprintof butterintoindividual squares or pats.

The device of this invention is designed more particularly for use in hotels and restaurants, where to prevent waste of butterit is customary to present it in the form of small prints, the production of which involves the expenditure of much time and labor.

By the device of the present invention, as will hereinafter fully appear, a square of butter may be rapidly and without labor converted into as many individual pats or squares as may be desired.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a machine for cutting butter, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit-thereof, and in the drawing the figure is a View in perspective of amachine embodying the essential features of the invention.

The machine comprises a base 1, two outter-frames 2 and 3, disposedat right angles to each other, and two heads or follower-blocks 4 and 5. The cutter-frames 2 and 3 comprise three posts or pillars 6, '7, and 8, circular in cross-section and attached at their lower ends in any preferred manner in the base 1, and two plates or bars 9 and 10, secured in any preferred manner to the upper ends of the posts.

The plate 9 in this instance carries one key 11 and the plate 10 eight keys 12, these keys having a threaded connection with the plates and being engaged by one end of the cuttingwires 13 and 14, the other ends of which are secured in any suitable manner to the base. Associated with the post 6 is a key 15, with which is connected one end of acutting-wire 16, disposed at right angles to the wire 13 and connected at its other end in any suitable manner with the post 7, the keys being provided, as will be obvious, for keeping the wires under the desired tension. 7

The follower-block 4 has associated with its rear face in any preferred manner a handle 17, provided on its lower side with a tongue or tenon 18 to work in a mortise or groove 19, extending parallel with the sides of the base, coaction between the tenon and the mortise operating 10 cause the follower-block 4 to move in a predetermined direction. The outer face of the follower-block is provided with two kerfs 20 and 21, disposed at right angles to each other and to be engaged by the wires 13 and 16 when the follower-block 4 is moved forward, the said kerfs to be of such depth as to permit the follower-block to enter between the posts 6 and 7 a sufficient distance to bring its kerfed face into alinement with the inner faces of the said posts.

The follower-block 5 is provided with vertical kerfs 22, corresponding in number to the cutting-wires 14, and with a handle 23, provided with a tongue or tenon 24 to work in a mortise or groove (not shown) corresponding to the groove 19, but disposed at right angles thereto. The kerfs 22 are to be of such depth that when the follower-block 5 is moved forward the cutting-wires will be permitted to enter therein a sufiicient distance to bring the kerfed face of the block into alinement with the outer faces of the posts 7 and 8, and thereby clear the divided brick of butter therefrom.

In the operation of the machine a brick of butter, say weighing one pound, is placed against the follower-block 4, and the latter is then pushed forward, dividing the brick into four equal parts, the posts 6 and 7 by reason of their rounded surfaces operating to square the ends of the brick as it is forced therebe tween. When the divided brick has cleared the said posts, the follower-block 5 is then moved forward and forces the butter between the cutting-wires 14 and divides it into thirtysiX equal parts, the posts 7 and 8 also operating to square off the ends of the divided brick, and thus cause all of the pats to be of the same size.

As clearly shown, the tongues or tenons l8 and 24 are rectangular in shape, and the mortises or grooves with which they coact are similar in shape, and by this arrangement the follower-blocks are free to be detached from the base for the purpose of cleansing.

In practice and from a standpoint of cheapness it will be preferred to make all of the apparatus except the keys, cutting-wires, and fastening devices of wood; but it will be apparent that if preferred they may be made wholly of anon-oxidizable metal, such as aluminium, or of a combination of metal and wood and still be within the scope of the invention, and as this will be readily understood detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the device of this invention is exceedingly simple of construction, being devoid of any intricate mechanism that would render its repair in case of breakage troublesome and expensive it will be thoroughly efficient for the purpose designed and will in a ready and simple manner fill a long-felt want.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A butter-cutting machine comprising a base provided in its upper face with two grooves disposed at right angles to each other, follower-blocks having handles provided with tongues detachably associated with the grooves, cylindrical posts secured to the base, bars attached to the upper ends of the posts, and cutting-wires connected with the bars and with the base.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SETH E. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

A. J. SHAW, CHAS. R. DALRYMPLE. 

